As much as we’d all love to slow time down every now and then, time stops for no one. And with the school year starting back up, not only will time seem to fly by, but you’ll also likely find it harder to spend quality time with your kids. While you, of course, want them to have a healthy amount of freedom, spending quality time together is an essential part of being a parent that you don’t want to take for granted. Here are some practical ways you can make sure you’re getting quality time with your kids during the busy school year.
Look for Ways to Involve Your Kids Throughout the Day
When life gets busy, it can be easy to simply try to get chores out of the way as quickly as possible. However, make an effort to involve your kids while you’re taking care of essential tasks around the house. If you need to fix part of the fence in the backyard, see if there’s a simple part of the task your kids could help with. Look for opportunities toteach your kids cooking by having them complete an easy step in a recipe. Not only are these types of activities great opportunities to spend time together, but you’ll also find that your kids have a fun time while they learn.
Drive Less
While cars are seen as a way to dramatically save time when traveling anywhere, using your car less can actually be a way to spend more quality time with your kids. For one, trips in the car for many parents involve distracting kids with toys or shows on a tablet. Plus, if you’re heading to the park, to a rec center, or a school event, your kids may go off to do their own thing for the majority of the time. When you find opportunities to walk instead of driving, you and your kids get to take that extra bit of time to get some physical activity while spending quality time together.
Turn the Screens Off
Let's face it, time spent together in front of a screen is far less meaningful than spending time talking, doing an activity, or playing a game. During the school year, try to swap out some family movie nights and do more family game nights instead. It’s also a good idea to make sure you turn the screens off well before bed and have your kids do otherrelaxing activities that help with sleep that you can help with.
As you take intentional steps to spend quality time with your kids, you’ll find that your kids’back to school anxiety will be easier to manage and that every family member feels secure in their sense of togetherness.